Transdermal scopolamine is appropriate for longer voyages and may lessen severity of symptoms in all common modes of travel. The most common side effect is dry mouth, which is experienced by up to two-thirds of travelers and is a frequently cited reason for discontinuation of use. Other side effects include blurred vision (especially for persons with hyperopia), dilated pupils, reduced visual accommodation, and bradycardia, all of which may appear or worsen 24 hours after patch application and with successive patch uses.

Scopolamine is less sedating than the antihistamines. Travelers may have rebound sensitivity following patch removal and may experience withdrawal symptoms of headache, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.


Common: dry mouth/nose/throat, blurred vision, drowsiness.

Less common: dry skin, contact dermatitis (from patch), palpitations, urinary retention, nausea, vomiting, bloating, constipation, loss of taste, headache, confusion, memory impairment, paradoxical hyperexcitability, insomnia, acute toxic psychosis. Withdrawal symptoms after patch removal: nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, weakness, bradycardia, hypotension. Medline Plus lists some of the above and adds: disorientation, dilated pupils, hallucinations, rash, eye pain - "Non-Infectious Risks During Travel"

A prescription drug called scopolamine may prevent symptoms of motion sickness if it is used before travel. Scopolamine is available in a patch called Transderm Scop or in a pill called Scopace. Scopolamine prevents nausea and vomiting by blocking signals from the inner ear to the brain.

You place the coin-sized Transderm Scop patch behind your ear about 4 to 8 hours before travel. It can be worn for 3 days, so it may be especially helpful for lengthy exposure to motion, such as on a cruise. You can use another patch at the end of the 3 days for longer trips.

It is important to wash your hands with soap and water after placing or removing the patch; otherwise, you might rub your eyes and get medication on them, increasing the risk of side effects such as blurred vision.

The pill Scopace should be taken on an empty stomach about 1 hour before you travel.

Scopolamine may cause side effects such as sleepiness, dry mouth, and blurred vision. Less common side effects include confusion, skin rashes, and difficulty urinating.

Those who should avoid this medication include older people, pregnant women, people who have glaucoma or difficulty urinating (such as from an enlarged prostate), or-usually in children-an obstruction of the valve (pylorus) between the stomach and the small intestine. - "Scopolamine for motion sickness"

Contraindicated in glaucoma, urinary retention, gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction, ulcerative colitis, myasthenia gravis, hypersensitivity. Caution in extreme heat, thyroid, cardiopulmonary, gastroesophageal reflux, liver, or kidney disease, seizure or psychotic disorder, autonomic neuropathy. Should not be used in children.

Caution when operating machinery, driving a car, or engaging in underwater sports. Wash hands after patch application to prevent transfer to eye. FDA Pregnancy category C.

Additive effects with alcohol and other CNS depressants, anticholinergics, antihistamines, some antidepressants (e.g., tricyclic antidepressants), and other neurologic drugs. Scopolamine may significantly impair GI motility when used with antidiarrheal drugs. Scopolamine impairs absorption of oral medications. Scopolamine may increase risk of GI lesions related to potassium chloride use.